Chili

There are just some days where nothing beats chili. Around here, we love frito chili pies and chili baked potatoes.

1 lb ground meat
8 oz can tomato sauce
medium onion
1t comino seeds
2T chili powder
1 can Ranch Style beans
salt/pepper to taste
2T flour
1/2t garlic powder
2c boiling water
jalapeno-seeds removed

Brown meat and onion; add everything else; simmer til ready to eat!

Black Bean Soup

This is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Another great recipe from the SL forums.

1 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
14.5 oz. can vegetable broth
2 15 oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. peeled, diced potato
1/2 t. dried thyme
1/2 t. cumin
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 – 1/2 t. hot pepper sauce
2 green onions, sliced
1T. olive oil

In a saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Stir in the beans, potato, thyme, cumin and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in tomatoes and hot pepper sauce; heat through. Sprinkle with green onions.

I usually add a second can of broth because I like it soupier and it stretches it out a bit. Also, substituting a sweet potato for the regular potato adds a nice twist.

Instant Mocha

My older son, Steven, loves his morning coffee. This is his recipe.


1/2c instant coffee
1c sugar
1c powdered milk
1/4c powdered creamer
1/4c unsweetened cocoa
1/4c instant vanilla pudding mix

Mix all together in a bowl. Pour into quart sized jar. Use 3-4T per cup of hot water. Don't leave out the pudding mix - that's what makes it creamy.

Super Easy Sloppy Joes

Or as my mother calls them - Juicy Pigs


1 pound ground beef, browned
1/2 cup salsa
1 cup tomato sauce
2T brown sugar

I didn't have tomato sauce, so I used a cup of jarred spaghetti sauce and will do that again. Just mix this all together and simmer until you're ready to eat. Really, really good. We use hoagie buns rather than hamburger buns just for a change. And of course, potato chips and pickles and cheese.

Crustless Cheese Quiche

A friend brought this to work the other night and I can honestly say that it was the best quiche I've ever eaten - and I've eaten a LOT of quiche!! Hope you enjoy it too. Thanks, Sherri!


2 Cups small curd cottage cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles
2 tablespoons chopped black olives ( I left out of mine)
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 F. In bowl, combine cottage cheese, Monterey jack cheese,
cheddar cheese, eggs, butter, chiles and 2 tablespoons olives. (This can be
prepared ahead & refrigerated.)
Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to cheese mixture and mix well.
Transfer to greased 9 inch pie plate. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 F;
bake 30 minutes longer or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
ENJOY!!

Pizza Crust

From the SL forums. We are now totally hooked on homemade pizza.

1 cup warm water
1 Tbl yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
2.5 cups flour
dried italian spices

Mix together water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Then add salt, oil, flour and spices; mix together then let sit for about 15 minutes. Roll onto large pizza pan, top with favorite toppings, bake for 20 minutes at 425.

Maple-Butter Syrup

My boys just love pancakes and syrup for dinner. Can't say I blame them.


1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
maple flavored extract
butter flavored extract

Mix together sugars and water and corn syrup, heat until sugars melted, just below boiling. Remove from heat. Add 1 capful each of extracts. Let cool before storing. Makes just shy of two cups.